GPS watch for trails (ultradistance) ?

So far, I've simply been taking the time with my iPod, so you should think I don't need much in a watch.

But I'd really like a GPS watch 'cause my training runs are getting ever longer (50+ k) and it's really hard to keep track of the course (e.g. on gpsies) before or after a run.

As these watches are rather expensive, I'd like to make the right choice. I stumbled across a lot of reviews so far (Garmin Forerunner 910xt, Suunto Ambit2, Garmin Fenix...)

Maybe there's someone who has some experience with different watches? I'm happy about any advice at all (:

What I'm looking for in a GPS watch: - Long lasting battery (20h minimum, the longer the better) - altimeter (where is the difference between barometric and via sattelite?) - waterproof - it should be able to "show me the way home" if I get lost again running through the middle of nowhere ;D

Some more general questions I have: - how useful ist it, if the watch can display a map? - what's a 3D compass for? - What difference does the number of GPS points make? (- Also, I go biking ocasionally. Should I buy a gps watch with features for this too?)

Oh so many questions .DMaybe someone knows a good page where I can read about these things?

Garmin 310XT -- 20 hour battery life, waterproof, can show you back home. Doesn't have a barometric altimeter, I don't think. The 910XT does, but it's also more than double the price... you can get the 310 for $160 or so these days. (Yes, I feel like an idiot, having paid $400 for mine.)

As for cycling -- technically you can use any GPS watch for that, even if it doesn't have a dedicated cycling mode. The 310 and 910 are both multisport watches, so they do have a cycling mode.

As for a page to read about these things -- check out DC Rainmaker (dcrainmaker.com).

This almoist all of my runs are on a trial and most with heavy tree cover. Garmin's simply work. I do the RnR Seattle marathon and we go into a mile long tunnel. I am blown away by the fact the Garmin, while losing the actual signal figures out what happened and recalculates, so after a very short time it is right on track.

Originally Posted by bluerun (AKA Super B*****):

Garmin 310XT -- 20 hour battery life, waterproof, can show you back home. Doesn't have a barometric altimeter, I don't think. The 910XT does, but it's also more than double the price... you can get the 310 for $160 or so these days. (Yes, I feel like an idiot, having paid $400 for mine.)

As for cycling -- technically you can use any GPS watch for that, even if it doesn't have a dedicated cycling mode. The 310 and 910 are both multisport watches, so they do have a cycling mode.

As for a page to read about these things -- check out DC Rainmaker (dcrainmaker.com).

This almoist all of my runs are on a trial and most with heavy tree cover. Garmin's simply work. I do the RnR Seattle marathon and we go into a mile long tunnel. I am blown away by the fact the Garmin, while losing the actual signal figures out what happened and recalculates, so after a very short time it is right on track.

Originally Posted by bluerun (AKA Super B*****):

Garmin 310XT -- 20 hour battery life, waterproof, can show you back home. Doesn't have a barometric altimeter, I don't think. The 910XT does, but it's also more than double the price... you can get the 310 for $160 or so these days. (Yes, I feel like an idiot, having paid $400 for mine.)

As for cycling -- technically you can use any GPS watch for that, even if it doesn't have a dedicated cycling mode. The 310 and 910 are both multisport watches, so they do have a cycling mode.

As for a page to read about these things -- check out DC Rainmaker (dcrainmaker.com).

The Detroit Marathon also has a mile long tunnel under a river. I'm a fan of Garmin, but I can tell you that my 310XT didn't work in the tunnel. It recorded time but not distance. Totally screwing with the calculated average pace.

The biggest functional difference between the 910 and 310 are the altimeter and the swim metrics. If you need an altimeter I think you looking at the 910, fenix or ambit. DC rainmaker has amazing review of all 3 watches.

I've recently moved from Garmin to Suunto- and use the Ambit2 for long trail runs with routes that I've created and downloaded into the watch. While both the Garmin and Suunto navigation software 'works', I've found the Suunto to be far less 'buggy'. lay in a few waypoints at the turns, and it will give you a nice breadcrumb trail to follow and warn you before each turn. Nice! The Suunto Movescount web site is, arguably, a bit better than Garmin's as well. Easy to 'retrace' your steps if you just want to go back the way you came as well.

You couldn't go wrong with the 310, 910 or the Ambit 2. right now, the garmin's have a better interface for creating custom workouts, complex intervals and such. Ambit 2 is better for customization. Plus, they're about to get a firmware upgrade with a lot of new features. (like- watch based cadence, using your arm swing)